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International School

International schools awardRossett school is proud to be a ‘British Council Reaccreditation Level International School Award’ School. We have a long-standing tradition of developing students’ international awareness and cultural understanding through the curriculum, but also through the myriad of extra-curricular clubs, trips and initiatives that we offer, all of which aim to make our students more informed global citizens.

Equally, we recognise the incredible opportunities that the school and our students benefit from as a result of this extensive international work and collaboration. As such, we are proud to showcase our work and the work of our students. Please take the time to look at our ever growing list of activities and initiatives at Rossett School.

As proud ambassadors for the British Council International School Award, if you are a parent or carer, a student, or someone from another school and just browsing, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you feel that we can help you in any way with organising and setting up your own cultural activities. Furthermore, should you be another school who want to apply for the award we would be happy to mentor and support you through the process.

In short, however we can share our knowledge and provide support so that all can benefit from the same wonderful opportunities as we have, we are more than happy to help.

Should you wish to speak to anyone at the school regarding our international work, please contact Mr C Halliwell at CHalliwell@rossettschool.co.uk

Please click here to read our press release about our International School Award.

Below are some examples of our activities which are detailed in our weekly school newsletter. This will be updated as and when new international activities are reported in Rossett News:

Wonderful Work

Mrs Shepherd was delighted to receive some amazing design work from one of our Year 7 students Samuel Wilson.   The students were asked to choose a culture to research and create a design to be made into a cushion during their practical lessons this year.  Samuel's African designs showed excellent research, planning and colour choices.

Ishigami School Pen-Pal Exchange, Japan

We were delighted this half-term to be able to continue our long-running partnership with Ishigami School, Japan. Although international travel restrictions prevented our physical biennial visit, twenty of our students across Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9 responded personally to a variety of creative and individual, hand-written letters sent from students at Ishigami School. Students from both sides of the globe were able to write about and compare their experiences of life in the current context. Many sent letters that dealt  with details of  school life, family life, interests and hobbies. We were proud of the quality and the creativity shown by the students here at Rossett School in extending the  ‘remote’ hand of friendship in a very traditional but old-fashioned manner, through the medium of hand-written letters!

 

happy-chinese-new-year-ox-2021-red_1017-29456Remote Chinese New Year Celebration Event: An Invitation

Each year Rossett School has the pleasure of welcoming teachers from the University of Leeds Business Confucius Institute who deliver Mandarin lessons to  students in Year 7 and Year 8. Although these lessons haven’t been possible this year, we have continued to maintain our on-going engagement and participation with all things Mandarin. Students and their families at Rossett have been invited to attend an online talk about Chinese New Year traditions on Saturday 27 February. This is the day after Lantern Festival, which is when New Year celebrations officially end. The event is open to all and will involve presentations about Chinese New Year customs, calligraphy and cuisine. Full details and registration on Eventbrite. This could be a great way to entertain the family in a ‘lockdown-friendly’ way this weekend.

pen pal imagePen Pal Exchange with Le collège Les Chalais

As a 'British Council International Schools Gold Award' school, Rossett is proud to continue its tradition of international co-operation and engagement with schools across the world, including Japan, the USA, France and Spain. Students in Madame Clarkson and Madame Normand's Year 10 group have, this six-week half term, been communicating with fellow students in Rennes, France via the traditional pen pal route. Students have exchanged letters, through their teachers, and have discussed their different hobbies, likes and dislikes, as well as describing what life has been like in lockdown in their respective countries. We are so pleased to be able to continue to offer students the opportunity to engage with the wider world and put  into practise their language skills acquired here at Rossett.

University of Leeds Linguists into School Workshop

The love of languages is being fostered at Rossett School even though, for the time being, our cultural school trips to France and Spain are not going ahead at present.  Mr Bruce-Halliwell, our Director of Learning for Modern Foreign Languages, has been helping the University of Leeds, via their 'Linguists into Schools Workshop', to inspire a new generation of language teachers.  Mr Bruce-Halliwell delivered an interative lesson planning workshop to students who are hoping to volunteer in schools with a view to gaining a place on a teacher training course in the future.

Catering

As the days get colder this is a quick reminder that our fantastic Catering Team  provide a full range of hot food from all of the 'bubble' catering outlets.  Our Executive Chef and his team have developed a menu which incorporates traditional dishes such as toad- in-the hole and fish and chips, and also European and world dishes such as Japanese mirin poached beef and Jamaican chicken curry.  Every Wednesday we have a traditional roast with trimmings.

We are currently supporting and championing 'Yorkshire' foods. All our suppliers are local and we work closely with our catering staff to keep our menus seasonal. We can trace the origins of all of our meat and fish and in some cases can even identify the boat which caught the fish.

Each day we offer two meat and one vegetarian dish.  We also have gluten free products available so no one has to miss out.

As well as our hot food we offer pasta with the choice of three sauces including a vegetarian option, jacket potatoes with assorted fillings, hot baguettes and specials which change daily.  Finally we do a selection of sandwiches and baguettes which are all made on-site fresh everyday.  These can also be pre-ordered using the iPad.  We also have an outstanding pastry chef producing a range of desserts and slices.

Here at Rossett  we are proud of what we do and are always looking to improve and we welcome feedback from the students and try to make lunchtime an education of food.

The weekly menus can be found at https://www.rossettschool.co.uk/students/catering/ and we have a twitter page so please follow us on @rossettkitchen.

Home Learning Activities

Miss Askew has been very impressed with her Year 7 students who have been looking into the history and style of Commedia Dell’Arte over the last half term in their Drama lessons. The students have finished off the scheme with a mini project of making their own Commedia style mask following a step-by-step guide which Miss Askew provided.

Mackinley Elliot in Year 7 sent some great pictures yesterday of the progress he has made in creating his mask. He has really enjoyed this project as part of remote learning. His smile says it all!

Mckinley mask 2Mcinley mask

New international links forged

Students at Rossett have established a new international link with a school in Peru to put their language skills into practice. Twelve Year 7 students have volunteered to take part and letters were sent before half term; this week, we received our first replies. This is a perfect opportunity at this time to practise the new content to the Spanish curriculum being learned during this period of remote study. Students have been talking about their free time and hobbies and how their experiences compare to their friends in Peru. As a British Council International Schools Award school, we are happy to be able to continue such important international cooperation. Well done to all involved, and we await the next instalment in Year 7's correspondence. Here is Joe Alderson's message:

Hola, me llamo Joseph y vivo en Harrogate en Inglaterra. Tengo doce años y voy a la

escuela de Rossett. Llueve mucho aqui. Mis hobbies son me gusta leer y jugar videojuegos.

Mi deporte favorito es el tenis porque es divertida . Tengo dos hermanas, son cinco y dos años.

Mi mejor amigo se llama Rory y me gusta porque es muy alegre y servicial. Hasta pronto.

MandarinLearn Mandarin

Our Mandarin teachers Jie and Xueni, from the University of Leeds, would like to encourage our Mandarin students in Year 7 and Year 8 (and anybody else who wishes to get involved; the more the merrier!) to have a look at some suggested videos here to keep their Mandarin going during this period of Remote Learning. We would love to see some videos of you speaking Mandarin at home, or even attempting the Apple Song Dance! Please submit to Mr Halliwell at CHalliwell@rossettschool.co.uk

American Exchange

Last weekend Rossett students who took part in the American Exchange trip to Falmouth, Maine returned home to their families after a wonderful and extremely busy trip state-side.  The last week of their visit included a Hallowe'en trip to Salem, learning about the historic Witch Trials; sightseeing and exploring in downtown Boston with shopping and a Duck Boat Tour; a guided tour of the prestigious Harvard University and a tour of the historic Boston Freedom Trail learning all about the origins of the USA.  Before they left Falmouth Middle School, Mr Halliwell and Mrs Grimshaw, who accompanied the students on the trip, presented the school with the Harrogate edition Monopoly board game for the Falmouth students to enjoy.  Our students were  a credit to our school, and their parents, throughout the trip and have brought home many memories of a fantastic visit.

Am Ex 4Am ex 5Monopoly

Celebrating Chinese New Year

Year 7 and Year 8 Rossett students of Mandarin enjoyed a fantastic evening celebrating the Chinese New Year of the Rat. They enjoyed spectacular entertainment performed by Chinese acrobats, jugglers and musicians. Some of our studChinese new yearents were keen to learn some juggling skills for themselves.  Speakers from the Confucius Institute in Leeds gave  talks about Chinese culture and the importance of learning Mandarin for future job opportunities. Rossett students also enjoyed a delicious Chinese Banquet.   We are very proud of two of our students, Julian and Jack Hartness who have shown their dedication to learning Mandarin and have passed Level 2 of the Chinese Youth Tests. They were presented with their certificates on the evening.

Spanish flagSpanish Trip

A group of language students depart tomorrow for a cultural tour of the Andalucían region of Spain to learn more about the regions culture and traditions, and to use the Spanish language skills they have been learning in their lessons.The students have a packed itinerary including a full day in the beautiful city of Málaga, with a private guided tour around the Picasso Museum, as well as visiting The Gilbralfaro Castle and The Alcazaba.  They will visit the pretty hillside village of Mijas and experience paella making and Flamenco dancing alongside free time in the pool and a quiz night.  The students return to Harrogate on Tuesday 16 July. 

'Who Do We Think We Are' Day

Today our Year 7s have experienced a whole range of activities looking at identity and how we are all diverse, original and unique members of the community.  They have had cultural experiences; looked at faiths around the world; practised yoga; and danced their way to the end of the day.

Y7 Diversity 1Y7 Diversity 2Diversity 3

Mandarin Students

Talented Year 7 and Year 8 linguists have been enjoying the challenge of learning Mandarin this year.

Year 7 students have learnt a wide variety of topics including talking about their family and pets and buying and ordering food.   Students were presented with special certificates for their outstanding performance studying the Chinese Youth Test Course 1.   Year 8 linguists also celebrated their success studying Course 2 with a special Chinese tea party.

Mandarin 1

Mandarin 2

Paris Trip

Rossett students are currently enjoying the sights of Paris on a cultural tour of the city.  Highlights of the trip so far have been an evening boat trip along the river Seine, a stroll down the Champs Elysee and enjoying views from the top of Arc de Triomphe.  The students will take in more sights of the city today and will return home on Sunday after enjoying a day at Disneyland Paris.

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Penpal exchangePen Pal Exchange

Spanish students in Year 9 are enthusiastically participating in a Pen Pal Exchange with students at Las Villuercas High School in Guadalupe, Spain.  Organised by their Spanish teacher, Miss Ramiro-Fernandez, students have exchanged letters and videos describing their lives, family and hobbies as well as some of the important traditions they each celebrate, including local history and traditions.  This is a fantastic way to encourage writing and reading skills in the subject whilst improving knowledge in European culture.  The Spanish students have sent a picture of themselves enjoying their letter writing and we hope to reciprocate with our own in the coming weeks.

American Exchange

Our students welcomed their American Exchange partners from Falmouth Middle School, Maine last week and have been enjoying a variety of trips to local Yorkshire attractions, including a tour of York, Harrogate and Knaresborough, as well as shopping around the centre of Leeds. On Monday the American students will accompany their Rossett Exchange partner on a visit to the Alpamare Water Park followed by fish and chips at the beach in Scarborough.  The American students will return to Maine on Tuesday 16 April with many happy memories of their visit.

American Ex 1American Ex 2



Battlefields Trip

Battlefields visit 19Our Year 9 and Year 10 students had a fantastic visit, at the start of the Easter break, to see the sights of the battlefields of the First World War. They visited British, French and German cemeteries; huge mine craters that were exploded under German trenches; and went through underground tunnels dug by the army for shelter.  The students were extremely well-behaved and really made their teachers proud by being so thoughtful and passionate about remembering those who fought in the Great War.

As always we encourage our students to identify members of their family from generations past who are remembered in the cemeteries.  A number of students made personal pilgrimages to lay tributes of poppies at specific sites.

On the way home,  students commented that the trip had been life-changing. You can hear the thoughts of our students, including some recordings taken from our visits to First World War sites on ‘The History Teacher Podcast’ which can be found on iTunes and Podbean:

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-history-teacher-podcast/id1451425087?i=1000436932465

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-tcr5i-afb6df

Ski Trip

This year's ski trip was once again an amazing success with students from Years 8 - 11 enjoying five days skiing in the glorious sunshine of Alpendorf and Wagrain.  With a mix of skiing abilities, from absolute beginner to the more experienced, all students made tremendous progress on the mountain. Two groups made it to the much sought after 'Donut Hut' for lunch and the advanced group even completed the ski trek to the resort of Flaccau.  The students also had fun away from the slopes with swimming trips, playing billiards, a pizza night and the alpine rollercoaster.  The students showed great resilience on the slopes and were a credit to themselves, their parents and the school.   Thank you to Ms Parker, who led the trip, and to Mr Bradshaw, Mr Wolfram and Miss Askew who gave-up their half-term break to accompany the students.


ski trip 3Ski trip 2019

ski trip 4

Japan

Picture miles of cherry blossom, seamless journeys on high performance trains and plates of sushi - these were some of the highlights of our Japanese Exchange visit this year.  The students enjoyed traditional hospitality and a chance to meet their 'pen pals' on their home turf at Ishigami School.  As well as lessons in Japanese and a tour of the library that had Rossett gifts of English classics from over the years, displayed for the students,  Rossett students experienced local life in Harramachi, Japan. Students also tried their hand at  traditional Japanese handwriting , took part in ICT lessons with robots  and performed a rendition of 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious' from Mary Poppins in a whole school assembly.

Tokyo and Kyoto formed part of the itinerary and the students saw the contrasts between the hi-tech vending machines and the simple agriculture of a region recovering from the dual tragedies of the 2011 tsunami and Fukushima nuclear accident.  Many thanks to Miss Veitch and Mr Bulmer for organising the trip this year.

Cherry blossomlast Japan pic

Chinese dragonCelebrating Chinese New Year 

chinese NY 19Our students of Mandarin welcomed the Chinese New Year, the year of the Pig, with a special celebration on Tuesday 12 February.  The event, hosted by the Red Kite Alliance at Harrogate Grammar School, included wonderful performances organised by the Confucius Institute at the University of Leeds.  The students were amazed by acrobats and jugglers; they got to see  a real Chinese dragon and taste an array of Chinese delicacies.

Japanese Exchange

Our students who are on the Japanese exchange, arrived safely in Tokyo today and travel on to Ishigami tomorrow  to meet their exchange partners.  During the visit the students  will embrace a variety of activities such as sushi-making and Japanese calligraphy, and will experience local culture and take part in lessons at Ishigami High School.   They will then travel to Kyoto, visit the Hiroshima Memorial Park, visit Miyajima Island and end their trip with an unforgettable journey on the bullet train back to Tokyo.  In Tokyo they will visit cultural buildings, dress as Samurais and enjoy traditional Japanese food before travelling home.  Mr Bulmer and Miss Veitch are leading our bi-annual  international trip and report their activities on Twitter @Rossettschool.

Tokyo

Japanese Exchange

DzxR_G-V4AAODkPRossett students currently on the Japanese Exchange have experienced a myriad of new experiences this week.  They began by introducing themselves to their exchange partners in Japanese and visited lessons at Ishigami High School.  At our partner school they perfected their calligraphy skills and sampled Japanese school dinners - some Rossett students were even interviewed for Japanese TV!

They continued their visit with strawberry picking and moshi tasting and then said their 'farewells' to their exchange partners and left for Kyoto on the bullet train. The students then visited  the Golden Temple, took part in a traditional tea ceremony and visited Fushimi Inari Shrine.  Amongst the highlights so far have been their visits to Hiroshima and Miyajima Island. To see more pictures see our Twitter @Rossett.

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Lepra - fighting disease, poverty and prejudice

Each year Rossett holds events to support Lepra, a UK registered international charity. This charity works with individuals and communities affected by some of the world's oldest and most neglected diseases, including leprosy.  Representatives of the charity have attended a Year 7 assembly to give students information about the charity and the work they do.  Students were given information about the effects of the disease leprosy and were challenged to raise as much as possible by taking part in a variety of activities which culminated in a Zumba workout on Wednesday.  We hope to beat last year's fundraising total of over £2,000 for this worthy, and sometimes forgotten,  cause.

Japanese Exchange

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The Japanese exchange students and staff from Ishigami High School have had a successful visit to Rossett once again.  They took part in activities including a trip to York and a visit to the Mayor's office in Harrogate, as well as a farewell 'traditional' fish and chip supper followed by karaoke!

It has been another fantastic opportunity to share our cultural traditions with our friends from Japan and continue the long-established exchange that is now in its 32nd year.  Rossett students and staff are very much looking forward to visiting Japan in 2019.


Am ex 1

American Exchange 2018

Rossett Students have enjoyed a wonderful first week in Maine, USA.  They have been involved in a variety of educational and leisure activities and have received a warm welcome from all at Falmouth Middle School.  They were also lucky enough to meet Terry Allen who was Principal at Falmouth 32 years ago, and was responsible for introducing the exchange!

European day of languagesEuropean Day of Languages

The European Day of Languages was a huge success with delicacies from our Executive Chef including a tapas bar; playing concours de petanque and handball in PE; a passport challenge in lessons, as well as specialities from European countries being on offer in the dining halls at lunch time.